What is a nasal septal perforation?
Nasal septal perforation, or holes within the wall of the nose, can become very problematic for patients particularly if they are close to the front of the nose. They increase the risks of bleeding, crusting, and can even cause whistling noises in some patients. There are many causes for septal perforation.
How is a septal perforation repair performed?
Initially, it will be determined if you are good candidate for surgical repair the septal perforation. Holes that are too big may not be amenable to surgery. If you are deemed a good candidate, then the surgery will be planned based on the size and location of the hole. In larger perforations, your surgery may have to be staged in multiple parts to allow for adequate tissue to be harvested for the repair.
The surgery will be performed using an endoscopic camera in outpatient surgical center or main hospital operating room, under general anesthesia. The location of the of the hole is then identified and flap is then designed from the healthy tissue adjacent to the perforation. This could include other parts of the septum or the floor of the nose. The tissue is the elevated and rotated over the hole and stitched into place. The areas of the nose from where the tissue was taken will also heal and replace the mucosal lining over the course of a couple months.
What is the recovery like for repair of a septal perforation?
Following surgery, you will have splints placed inside the nose to support the septum during the healing process. This is typically removed within a week after surgery. Although this does cause some discomfort, the procedure itself is tolerated well. If large portions of nasal lining were moved from another location, the donor site can take months for new, healthy mucosa to regrow over the bone. During this time, you will experience crusting and nasal discharge. Debridements in the clinic following your surgery will ensure optimal healing.
